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Taylor confirms January return for NZ

Wellington

Ross Taylor says he is "cooling down" after being stripped of the New Zealand cricket captaincy but won't return to the domestic game until January.

While the Black Caps prepare to leave this week for their gruelling tour of South Africa, Taylor was looking forward to spending Christmas with his parents in Masterton and time with his young family.

Taylor pulled out of the tour when replaced as skipper by Brendon McCullum last week, citing an untenable relationship with coach Mike Hesson as one reason for declining an offer to remain as Test captain.

The 28-year-old says the past month has been stressful since being told of his pending demotion by Hesson, days out from the first Test in Sri Lanka.

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He says he has struggled to sleep since but is now coming to terms with his decision to pull out of the tour and confirmed he is targeting a return for the home series against England in February/March.

"I'm cooling down ... and hopefully over the next few weeks I can continue to recover in a lot of areas," he told LiveSport radio.

"Hopefully I'll be ready for that England series, all going well. But it will be a tough transition back into the team."

Central Districts coach Alan Hunt has left the door open for Taylor to return when he is mentally ready.

They have a heavy domestic schedule after Christmas, including up to 10 domestic Twenty20 games followed by two first class matches in late January.

Taylor could also be selected in a New Zealand 11 to face England in two warm-up T20 matches in Whangarei ahead of the first of three T20 internationals on February 9.